News

Council Protects Residential Parking Near Baseball and Ward One Retail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jason Yuckenberg
(202) 727-5820

Washington DC: The DC Council passed an emergency bill yesterday to protect residential parking in Columbia Heights and around the new ballpark.

Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward One) and Councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) introduced the bill to address parking issues arising from the new retail opening in Columbia Heights this week and the opening of the new baseball stadium later this month.

The Department of Transportation will increase the amount of parking reserved for residents in Columbia Heights. They will also set the times and prices of commercial curbside meters to make short-term parking more available.

New signs will be made to encourage visitors to use public transit. The signs will also inform visitors about the affordable parking in the District-financed garage. There is a 1,200 car underground garage at the DC USA/ Target retail site (located at 3100 14th St, NW). The garage charges only $1 per hour for each of the first four hours.

“Shoppers have options with the Columbia Heights garage,” said Councilmember Graham, “they don’t have to park on the streets. Those spaces can be better reserved for residents and short-term visitors.”

The bill also makes sure parking control officers enforce the laws against unsafe parking (such as double parking). DPW has committed to increased enforcement by parking control officers.

A similar set of authorities will be applied to neighborhoods surrounding the new ballpark. Beginning March 30, over 40,000 people will be attending games at the new stadium in Southeast Washington.

The bill also contains the following provisions to be announced in separate press releases:
1) Create a pilot taxi zone in Adams Morgan
2) Create a pilot visitor parking program in Mount Pleasant

###